Helicopter UH-1C 65-09458

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 65-09458
The Army purchased this helicopter 0266
Total flight hours at this point: 00001715
Date: 09/30/70
Incident number: 71093010.KIA
Unit: 117 AHC
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: XT980865
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Also: OPERA (Operations Report. )
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
AC WO1 STANSBURY THOMAS RODGERS KIA
P WO1 HERBERT FREDERICK CONRAD KIA
CE SP4 BEHM CHRIS ROGER KIA
G SP4 RICKS RONALD GLENN KIA
P WO1 HEBERT FREDERICK CONRAD KIA

War Story:
Thomas Rodgers Stansbury Chris Behm, Tom's crew chief dreamed of the circumstances of their deaths days before and told several people. They were shot down in flames and crashed inverted as the dream but with Tom as Aircraft Commander instead of CPT Raber. The UH-1C was called Death's Orgasim. Tail number 458. from James F. Gardner, Sidewinder 4 The facts surrounding Tom's death affirmed the quality person and pilot he was. Tom was the aircraft commander of the second ship in a light fire team on the day of the occurrence. Scott Alwin was the commander of the lead ship and the fire team leader. The mission was to take them into Cambodia for the first time in several months. As they proceeded toward Cambodia, past Tay Ninh, they came under the fire of a 51 caliber machine gun. The aircraft Tom was piloting caught fire and they lost their engine. Tom's directions to the crew were overheard by virtue of the fact that when keying the mike to transmit on the intercom, he inadvertently keyed it all the way so as to transmit on the radio as well. Tom entered an auto-rotation and gave directions to his crew on the way down to use the fire extinguisher and put out the fire. At approximately 300 to 500 feet, the tail boom of the aircraft failed and the aircraft went inverted and crashed. I was told that the non-pilot crew members jettisoned the aircraft at approximately 500 feet, presumably due to the intense heat. It is not believed that anyone survived. A recovery team was dispatched to recover whatever remnants remained, but was unable to acomplish their mission due to the reported heavy enemy weapon fire in the area. Upon my arrival at the scene of the accident shortly after it occurred, there was no evidence of any bodies visible as a result of the accident or by reason of enemy activity. In closing, I should relate one item as a matter of interest. Tom Stansbury was the scheduling officer in our unit. On the day before the accident, I had been awarded an aircraft commander position and Tom, quite naturally, assigned me to fly the aircraft commander position of the second ship behind Scott Alwin. Captain Alwin recognized the mission to be a dangerous mission and suggested to Tom that he would prefer to have a more experienced aircraft commander on this mission. Tom came and talked to me about this and advised me that in view of the request he had scheduled himself to take the aircraft commander position in my stead. I have often thought about this turn of events and the influence of karma. from Jim Wade, 17 Sep 9

This record was last updated on 05/25/98

The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: WO1 Thomas Rodgers Stansbury
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/30/71 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death: 24.9
Date of Birth: 11/02/46
Home City: Houston, TX
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 117 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 70-45
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 02W-032
Short Summary: Shot down in flames, crashed inverted, and burned. Tom was in movie "Midnight Cowboy". W/Hebert. crew chief had dream about crash. memo
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 65-09458
Call sign: Sidewinder
SSN: 444421137
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: aircraft commander
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 03/19/71
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - P I D
Length of service: *
Location: Tay Ninh Province III Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: XT085865

Additional information about this casualty:
Thomas Rodgers Stansbury Chris Behm, Tom's crew chief dreamed of the circumstances of their deaths days before and told several people. They were shot down in flames and crashed inverted as the dream but with Tom as Aircraft Commander instead of CPT Raber. The UH-1C was called Death's Orgasim. Tail number 458. from James F. Gardner, Sidewinder 4 The facts surrounding Tom's death affirmed the quality person and pilot he was. Tom was the aircraft commander of the second ship in a light fire team on the day of the occurrence. Scott Alwin was the commander of the lead ship and the fire team leader. The mission was to take them into Cambodia for the first time in several months. As they proceeded toward Cambodia, past Tay Ninh, they came under the fire of a 51 caliber machine gun. The aircraft Tom was piloting caught fire and they lost their engine. Tom's directions to the crew were overheard by virtue of the fact that when keying the mike to transmit on the intercom, he inadvertently keyed it all the way so as to transmit on the radio as well. Tom entered an auto-rotation and gave directions to his crew on the way down to use the fire extinguisher and put out the fire. At approximately 300 to 500 feet, the tail boom of the aircraft failed and the aircraft went inverted and crashed. I was told that the non-pilot crew members jettisoned the aircraft at approximately 500 feet, presumably due to the intense heat. It is not believed that anyone survived. A recovery team was dispatched to recover whatever remnants remained, but was unable to acomplish their mission due to the reported heavy enemy weapon fire in the area. Upon my arrival at the scene of the accident shortly after it occurred, there was no evidence of any bodies visible as a result of the accident or by reason of enemy activity. In closing, I should relate one item as a matter of interest. Tom Stansbury was the scheduling officer in our unit. On the day before the accident, I had been awarded an aircraft commander position and Tom, quite naturally, assigned me to fly the aircraft commander position of the second ship behind Scott Alwin. Captain Alwin recognized the mission to be a dangerous mission and suggested to Tom that he would prefer to have a more experienced aircraft commander on this mission. Tom came and talked to me about this and advised me that in view of the request he had scheduled himself to take the aircraft commander position in my stead. I have often thought about this turn of events and the influence of karma. from Jim Wade, 17 Sep 9

Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Presbyterian
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 09/13/92

Name: WO1 Frederick Conrad Hebert
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/30/71 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 20.7
Date of Birth: 01/13/51
Home City: Richmond, VA
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 117 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 02W-031
Short Summary: Hit by 51 cal, caught fire, lost tail boom & crashed inverted and burned. W/Tom Stansbury. Helicopter air casualty - pilot
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 65-09458
Call sign: Sidewinder
SSN: 229668174
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 07/02/71
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - P I D
Length of service: *
Location: Tay Ninh Province III Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: XT085865
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 06/19/93

Name: SP4 Chris Roger Behm
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/30/71 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 19.5
Date of Birth: 04/01/52
Home City: Pensacola, FL
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 117 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 02W-030
Short Summary: Hit by 51 cal, caught fire, lost tail boom & crashed inverted and burned.
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 65-09458
SSN: 267966340
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 45J20 = Aircraft Armament Repairman
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: crew chief
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 01/08/71
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - P I D
Length of service: *
Location: Tay Ninh Province III Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: XT085865
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Baptist - Southern Baptist Convention
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 08/20/95

Name: SP4 Ronald Glenn Ricks
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/30/71 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Age at death: 25.1
Date of Birth: 08/28/46
Home City: Dallas, TX
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 117 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 02W-031
Short Summary: Hit by 51 cal, caught fire, lost tail boom & crashed inverted and burned.
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 65-09458
SSN: 464708511
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67A1F = Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 06/04/70
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - P I D
Length of service: *
Location: Tay Ninh Province III Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: XT085865
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Church of God
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 08/20/95

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 65-09458
It is provided here as an ESTIMATE of the history of this helicopter and is not intended to be the final authority.
This helicopter was purchased by the US Army in 0266.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6610  66  360 W1DZAA USA AVN SCHOOL   AV SCH     FORT RUCKER      AV SCH          
6611  51  411 W1DZAA USA AVN SCHOOL   AV SCH     FORT RUCKER      AV SCH          
6612  61  472 W1DZAA USA AVN SCHOOL   AV SCH     FORT RUCKER      AV SCH          
6701   2  474 W1DZAA USA AVN SCHOOL   AV SCH     FORT RUCKER      AV SCH         
6702   0  474 W1DZAA USA AVN SCHOOL   AV SCH     FORT RUCKER      AV SCH         
6703   0  474 W1DZAA USA AVN SCHOOL   AV SCH     FORT RUCKER      AV SCH         
6704   0  474 W1DZAA USA AVN SCHOOL   AV SCH     FORT RUCKER      CONARCAS         
6705   0  474 W1DZAA USA AVN SCHOOL   AV SCH     FORT RUCKER      CONARCAS         
6706   0  474 W1DZAA USA AVN SCHOOL   AV SCH     FORT RUCKER      CONARCAS         
6707   0  474 W1DZAA USA AVN SCHOOL   AV SCH     FORT RUCKER      CONARCAS         
6708   0  474 W1DZAA USA AVN SCHOOL   AV SCH     FORT RUCKER      CONARCAS         
6709   0  474 W1DZAA USA AVN SCHOOL   AV SCH     FORT RUCKER      CONARCAS         
6710   0  474 W1DZAA USA AVN SCHOOL   AV SCH     FORT RUCKER      CONARCAS         
6711   0  474 W1DZAA USA AVN SCHOOL   AV SCH     FORT RUCKER      CONARCAS         
6712   0  474 W1DZAA USA AVN SCHOOL   AV SCH     FORT RUCKER      CONARCAS         
6801   0  474 W1DZAA USA AVN SCHOOL   AV SCH     FORT RUCKER      CONARCAS         
6802   3  477 W1DZAA USA AVN SCHOOL   AV SCH     FORT RUCKER      CONARCAS         
6803   0  477 W1DZAA USA AVN SCHOOL   AV SCH     FORT RUCKER      CONARCAS         
6804   0  477 2020   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM     
6805   5  482 2020   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY 
6806   9  491 2020   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY 
6807  42  533 2020   OPM SEA NITEOPS  1ST ARMY   FORT BELVOIR     AMC          
6808  42  575 2020   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC 
6809   0  575 2020   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC 
6810  40  615 2020   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC 
6811   0  615 2020   POST SUPPLY      6TH ARMY   FORT ORD         6TH ARMY    
6812  25  640 WFJ8AA A BTY 4BN 77ART  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6901  74  714 WFJ8AA A BTY 4BN 77ART  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6902  61  775 WFJ8AA UNIT NOT KNOWN   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6903  33  808 WFJ8A0 A 4-77ATY 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6904  59  867 WFJ8B0 B 4-77ATY 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6905  51  918 WFJ8B0 B 4-77ATY 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6906  47  965 WE4HAA 142 TC DS        VIETNAM                     RVN     
6907   0  965 WE4HAA 142 TC DS        VIETNAM                     RVN     
6908   0  965 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVCOMITR 
6909   0  965 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
6910   0  965 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
6911   0  965 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
6912   0  965 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
7001   0  965 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
7002   0  965 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM        
7003   0  965 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM        
7004   0  965 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM        
7005   0  970 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM        
7006   0  970 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM        
7007   0  970 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM        
7008  36 1006 WAX8AA 117 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7009  59 1065 WAX8AA 117 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7010  46 1111 WAX8AA 117 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7011  46 1157 WAX8AA 117 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7012  37 1194 WAX8AA 117 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7101  53 1247 WAX8AA 117 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN     
7102  45 1292 WAX8AA 117 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN     
7103  54 1346 WAX8AA 117 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN     
7104  92 1438 WAX8AA 117 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN     
7105  71 1509 WAX8AA 117 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN     
7106  37 1546 WAX8AA 117 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN     
7107  56 1602 WAX8AA 117 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7108  55 1657 WAX8AA 117 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7109  58 1715 WAX8AA 117 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN

Please send additions or corrections to:

Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870

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Printed from databases on: 02/21/99

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